Chai Life Spring 2013 (PDF Document) - Jewish Federation of South ...

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Making a Difference for Youth in Israel One Life at a Time The dollars we raise in South Palm Beach County are doing a world of good through our overseas agency partners. Every day, our community’s generosity touches lives in our extended Jewish family in Israel and around the globe through the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Ethiopian National Project (ENP). Meet just a few of the young people whose lives have been changed in Israel, and whose communities will benefit because we cared. Omri, the oldest of six siblings in a family of immigrants, had trouble finding his way in school. Consumed with the day-to-day struggle for survival in their new home, his parents lacked knowledge or tools to provide the guidance he needed. After skipping classes for years, Omri dropped out at age 16, spent his days wandering the streets with other dropouts and soon began to drink. Eventually, a truant officer encouraged him to get a high school diploma by offering him a “cool” opportunity with Turning Point. This innovative program helps at-risk Israeli youth break out of the cycle of risk and alienation through positive entrepreneurship and employment experiences, setting them on the path to a productive adulthood. As youth are exposed to real world business concepts and gain skills for launching a business and finding a job, they build their self-confidence and begin to see themselves in a new light. “I never thought I could make it in business because I didn’t believe in myself,” Omri says. A week at one of Turning Point’s BizCamps taught him the basics of starting and running a business and changed the course of his life. “Without Turning Point, I would be in a very different place. Today my outlook is long-term.” After failing his final exam in Hebrew grammar last year, Ethiopian-born Mahlet’s confidence in himself evaporated. “When school started this year, I didn’t really care anymore,” he says. “If I was going to fail anyway, what was the point of studying hard?” Fortunately, Mahlet’s ENP teachers did care. “They talked to me and convinced me to participate in ENP’s Scholastic Assistance Program and get extra help in school.” The program – along with a thriving outreach center – are part of SPACE, a powerful ENP project designed to help at-risk high school students improve academically. “It paid off,” Mahlet reports happily. “My success showed me that I was capable of more and that I have the potential to succeed.” After conquering the Hebrew language, he has moved on to the challenge of math. “The battles will continue and I am determined to win,” he says with confidence. CHAILIFE 48 Jennifer’s upbringing left her with little inkling of her Jewish identity when she graduated from college with a degree in secondary education. She looked forward to becoming a public school teacher but found a dismal job market. Struggling to keep her career hopes alive as a substitute teacher, Jennifer heard about a pilot project offered by Masa Israel Journey, a JAFI program that connects a new generation of college grads and young professionals to their homeland through a life-changing experience in Israel. Jennifer signed up for Masa Israel Teaching Fellows and prepared to spend 10 months working as an English teacher in one of Israel’s neediest public schools. “Six months into my work at the Rozen Elementary School in Rishon LeZion, I’m a much more skilled teacher,” she reports. “I feel like this experience has offered me more than I could ever have hoped for. I’ve discovered my Jewish identity and am now even speaking Hebrew.”
JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL Jewish Teens Learn and Make Friends at JARC on Service Day Fifty teens from eleven area schools joined their friends and made new ones at JARC at a very special event on April 21 - while earning community service hours. Jewish Teen Service Day was devised by a group of local teens convened by the Jewish Community Relations Council of South Palm Beach County (JCRC) to help bring local Jewish youth from public and private schools together for an appealing and meaningful activity. The afternoon kicked off in Zinman Hall with a kosher barbecue lunch and a bit about the work of the Jewish Federation. A walk through the Federation campus to JARC helped bring this learning home. Dr. Debra Hallow, JARC Executive Director, oriented the rapt students to relationship building and sensitivities in socializing with persons living with different types of special needs. Then, the teens and JARC residents played Bingo and talked together. Before leaving, a number of students requested information about volunteering there on a regular basis. Instrumental to Teen Service Day’s success was the partnership effort of local schools, synagogues and teen organizations with the JCRC for planning and recruitment. Some of their staff were on hand for the event: Daniel Mesa and Jen Coane of Jewish Student Connection; Justin Pollack from BBYO; and Shira Englander of Weinbaum Yeshiva High School. Together, our community provided a great day of service and companionship for teens and JARC residents, with connections that will continue developing for the benefit of all. boca Teen Wins Israel at 65 Video Contest South Palm Beach County students in Grades 9-12 were invited by the Jewish Community Relations Council to submit a short YouTube video highlighting one or more of the many achievements of the State of Israel in this 65th anniversary year of the Jewish homeland. The winner of the contest was announced at the Federation on Tuesday, May 28. Simcha Stadlan, a 9th grade student at Weinbaum Yeshiva High School, accepted the prize, an iPad Mini, in the presence of his parents and others who attended a screening of the video. Simcha’s video cited Israel’s achievements in the areas of Technology & Science, Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), Culture & Arts, Lifestyle & Leisure, the Environment, and People & Heritage. This remarkable production will appear on the Jewish Federation’s website, and on the JCRC’s webpage for viewing by the public. Simcha said that it took many hours to compile and arrange photographs, create titles and set the piece to music. The son of Liz and Dr. Carmi Stadlan, he’s visited Israel twice– once with family, and again on a trip with the Hillel Day School. (Simcha also attended the Levis JCC Zale Early Childhood Center) This video has provided our community with a three-minute snapshot that will educate and inspire viewers about the miraculous modern State of Israel. See it now at: jewishboca.org/imagination. 49 CHAILIFE
Page 1 and 2: Volume 8 • Issue 3 Spring 2013 AN
Page 3 and 4: 5 8 22 FEATURES 34 40 48 5 In a Min
Page 5 and 6: ecause EVERYTHING can change IN A M
Page 7 and 8: Live for today A real estate develo
Page 9 and 10: Ellen R. Sarnoff, Matt Levin, Roxan
Page 11 and 12: Building Community through New Loca
Page 13 and 14: King David Society Thank You Featur
Page 15 and 16: campaign Wendy Pressner, Joanna & B
Page 17 and 18: campaign No risk? Know risk. No one
Page 19 and 20: OUT AND ABOUT BROKEN SOUND Broken S
Page 21 and 22: Dorothy P. Seaman Department of Wom
Page 23 and 24: Eydie Holz, Wendy Pressner Barbara
Page 25 and 26: Dorothy P. Seaman Department of Wom
Page 27 and 28: Young Adult Division Playdate with
Page 29 and 30: Wishing The Jewish Federation of So
Page 31 and 32: B&P Kicks Networking into High Gear
Page 33 and 34: Compliments of hurry! over 100 apar
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Page 37 and 38: A Timely Gift: Appreciated Stock Wi
Page 39 and 40: PROFILE IN GIVING: Richard Steinber
Page 41 and 42: “In addition to the joy I experie
Page 43 and 44: JWF - Making a Difference for Jewis
Page 45 and 46: THE RUTH AND EDWARD TAUBMAN EARLY C
Page 47: PAC Stops in Sister City Of course,
Page 51 and 52: PJ Library Supporters & Partners Ce
Page 53 and 54: Flags & Festivities on Campus for I
Page 55 and 56: JEWISH ASSOCIATION FOR RESIDENTIAL
Page 57 and 58: LOCAL BENEFICIARY AGENCIES TORAH AC
Page 59 and 60: CONGREGATION SHIRAT SHALOM (R) PO B
Page 61 and 62: *Corporate Sponsors THE DROWOS GROU
Page 63 and 64: PALM BEACH COUNTY’ S PERIODICAL A

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